If you have been planning to watch The Archies due to all the buzz it has been creating due to all the names associated with the project, here’s my advice: Ditch The Archies and watch Mast Mein Rehne Ka instead. This is what storytelling is! This is what performance means!
I was a little sceptical about Neena Gupta being paired with Jackie Shroff. Why? Because all of us are very much in love with this adorable and hottest on-screen couple, Neena Gupta and Gajrao Rao. But as the movie progresses, you fall in love with this duo – the pair look absolutely ‘made for each other.’
I will talk about Abhishek Chauhan later. First, let’s talk about the Mast Mein Rehne Ka movie’s story.
The plot revolves around a young couple – Nanhe and Rawas, and companions – Kamath and Mrs. Handa – if you want, you can call them a couple but it depends on how you see their equation. Some might see them as lifelong friends, while others, just two people who have grown close only because they understand each other’s situation – the loneliness, suffering, pain, and longing for ‘company.’ In the initial scenes, Jackie Shroff, though old and alone, seems to be enjoying his life. In the scene when he buys himself Chinese food, I actually thought that this is how you should enjoy your company, this is how you should live your life. After a few scenes, when drunk Kamath begs Nanhe, the thief, to kill him as they get into a tussle when Nanhe breaks into his house – you understand how this man is suffering in silence. This shift in audience’s perspective just with two scenes is what good cinema is about. It changes the way you perceive people (and life) – forever!
After the theft incident, Kamath (Jackie Shroff) starts a survey, all by himself. How? By following lonely senior citizens and tracking their daily activities to understand who is the thief’s next target. The first person who Kamath follows is Mrs. Handa (Neena Gupta), a senior citizen who has just come back to India from Canada. Surprisingly, Mrs. Handa becomes Nanhe’s next target and while reporting the incident to the police, she gets to know that Kamath has been following her for the last 10 days, scaring her further.
As she soon realises that he is simply protecting senior citizens from a thief who’s breaking into their houses, she joins him. As the oldies become partners-in-crime, they start feeling alive again.
Parallely, we see Nanhe and Rawas’ story. Nanhe, a tailor who has been fired due to his inappropriate suggestion to a lady customer struggles to financially secure himself even after setting up his own tailoring business. As his struggle continues, he meets Rawas, a young lady who lives on the roads and earns on the roads – from begging to prostitution, she is doing it all. Through their struggle, they find their own haven in each other. They fall in love pretty quickly yet deeply.
But, Nanhe is the thief, Mrs. Handa and Kamath have already reported to the police. Both of them have seen his face. The mangalsutra that Nanhe gifts Rawas is the piece of jewellery Kamath wants to find that thief for, as it was his wife’s mangalsutra. How does their paths cross again and how each of them find peace and happiness again is what Mast Mein Rehna Ka is all about.
The only downside is that it is super slow. Not everyone will patiently sit and watch the movie till the end, but if you are reading this blog, here’s a suggestion – watch Mast Mein Rehne Ka the last scene. When it comes to good cinema, a few flaws can be ignored. But appreciating and applauding the art is a must.
Abhishek Chauhan – Naam Toh Suna Hi Hoga?
I first saw his performance in Undekhi S1. And I instantly fell in love with his acting. His death in the web series broke my heart and made me cry. Then, I saw Cubicles. Again, a different character – completely different shade of character when compared to Undekhi but still, what a balanced performance. Now, it’s Mast Mein Rehna Ka. The way he has changed his body language and also, his language, expressions, and whatnot! He can act in both verbal and non-verbal ways. That is what defines a ‘good actor.’
I really hope he makes it big in the industry. These days when the industry is flooded and overflowing with straight-faced people calling themselves actors, true actors like Abhishek come as a fresh and welcoming change.
How can I end this movie without mentioning Monika Panwar. Another talented ‘actress’ who can act and act pretty well. Slowly yet surely, it feels good to see talented people get their due. Hope they soon get the well-deserved recognition and fame too.
P.S: Rakhi Sawant is a much better actor compared to today’s most of the non-actors turned actors
ALSO READ: Who’s Your Gynac Review: It’s A Lovely Show! Saba Azad Keeps You Hooked
